In what would be a killer blow to the national basketball competition, the Crocs are now being steered forward by a committee desperate to lock in a community-owned model as pioneered by the Wollongong Hawks and Cairns Taipans.

The model sees the team become exclusively funded by membership fees, gate takings, sponsors and a major naming rights sponsor.

Private ownership has proved a difficult option for clubs, and the Queensland team's decision caught the competition by surprise.

"We were all caught off-guard by it when [owners] Barrier Reef Basketball decided they weren't in the right position to operate the club," Hawks general manager Mili Simic said.

"But within 24 hours there was a steering committee to save the Crocs and they've had a great response so far.

"They've taken some big steps in saying Townville wants to have a team in the NBL."

Wollongong was faced with the same financial trouble in 2009 when the club mounted a campaign to save their team.

Lead by former captain Mat Campbell, the Save The Hawks movement was seen as a triumph in the congested sporting climate.

The Hawks secured a major naming rights sponsor courtesy of local mining magnate Arun Jagatramka and his Gujarat NRE company, and has since enjoyed strong support in the Illawarra.

Since the Crocodiles' announcement, Mili Simic has spoken to the team's staff on a daily basis to offer advice.

He's helped them establish the pledge website savethecrocs.com and explained how the community-owned model works in Wollongong.

"For them it's about locking in the support they know they have, and talking to the [home court] venue to get the best deal, while rallying the troops to get membership," he said.

"You ride a lot of emotion when you're saving a club, but they're spreading the word and I'm confident we'll have an NBL next year and it'll be an eight-team comp with the Crocs."

The Townsville community has responded strongly to the news their team could be folding, with their Facebook group flooded with messages of support.

Over the last week the mood has become increasingly optimistic.

"Think about our journey and it will confirm why we can't let this go - tell your friends, families and your employers - this is for our community," the team wrote on their Facebook page.

Simic says the community-owned model has its challenges, but diligent spending means the club can stay afloat.

Of great concern now is the wealth division within the NBL.

The divide between the rich and poor is growing.

The Perth Wildcats and New Zealand Breakers both enjoy enormous local support, with Perth regularly drawing over 10,000 people to their home games while other teams struggle to attract 4,000.

Meanwhile, the Melbourne Tigers are backed by CEO and Dodo founder Michael Slepoy and enjoy a comfortable financial position.

Yet the Hawks, Crocodiles, Cairns Taipans, Adelaide 36ers and Sydney Kings have all faced major financial threats in recent years, and openly admit to spending under the NBL's salary cap each year.

The last two NBL grand finals have been fought out between the Perth Wildcats and the New Zealand Breakers, who dominated the 2012/13 season.

"We have to find different ways to compete, but we're all on the same team in sharing best practices and drawing on new revenue," Simic said.

"We all meet and realise we have different resources to pull from to make the competition better."

He says additional teams from Brisbane and Melbourne are a realistic possibility in coming years and would help bolster the NBL.